It’s clear as day that we missed Reo Hatate in the Scottish Cup final so maybe his critics will now understand what he brings to the team…
It’s also worth noting that Aberdeen have needed up befitting enormously from that disgraceful challenge from Pape Gueye that resulted in a season ending injury for Hatate. The Celtic support certainly let him know all about it when he came off the Aberdeen bench.
As expected Reo Hatate was a big loss in yesterday’s Scottish Cup final defeat and that’s something surely even his biggest critics can agree with.
Reo was injured after a late, unnecessary and over the top challenge by Aberdeen striker Pape Gueye in our 5-1 win at Pittodrie a fortnight ago.
It was evident against St Mirren on trophy day that we missed his guile and creativity in the middle of the park and we didn’t have that same spark around us that we’ve possessed in recent months.
It was very much the same at Hampden yesterday and it was clearly notable that we missed the Japanese playmakers influence on proceedings.
Reo Hatate for some reason has his critics within the Celtic support, but he’s a player who can create something out of nothing and gives us a goal threat into the bargain. Just think back to last season when he missed a chunk of the early part of the campaign but came back at the business end and contributed to us winning the double.
That’s proof of the talent Reo Hatate possess and yesterday further proves that we miss his presence in a big way. Surely even his biggest critics can see that? While Callum McGregor was marshalling things as usual in the middle of the park the other two midfielders Paulo Bernardo and Arne Engels were for the most par ineffectual.
The full-back-winger partnership down the right hand side was dreadfully disappointing, and Nicolas Kuhn could and should have been replaced at the interval. As mentioned yesterday James Forrest had the momentum, was the man of the moment and should have started.
Daizen has family matters on his mind and hasn’t been the same since returning from Japan ahead of theRangers game. Adam Idah was smothered out of things inside a crowded penalty area as Aberdeen’s 5-3-2 low block worked a treat against these misfiring Celts.
There’s also a real debate to be had about our first pick goalkeeper, somebody could have asked Kapser’s dad ‘whits the goalie daein’ Peter?’ As for the penalties his efforts were on a par by Pat Bonner’s 1990s shambles – neither got near anything.
Having won two penalty shoot-outs in a row the law of averages was also at play. When it went to penalties most of us would have that sinking feeling.
So no treble but on yesterday’s performance that’s probably fair enough. You have to turn up to win cup finals and too many of our players didn’t.
But with Reo playing we’d probably have sneaked it.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Yesterday hurt but showed how much we missed Hatate. Without him we lack creativity and a drive for a forward pass. We need more players like him in our midfield. HH pic.twitter.com/lKK2KDeVBx
— Celtic Gossip (@CelticGossip) May 25, 2025
Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image above to join.
I think the same player tried to do the same to Maeda yesterday after the ball went out of play for an Aberdeen goal kick. He had just barged Johnstone in the back (obviously no foul was given) but after the ball was out he tried to lash it into Maeda.
What a ridiculous article. I’m a diehard Tim but we just got sussed out yesterday and paid the price for not making and taking chances. To play the blame game is what the blue half do. Grow up